Defence Housing Australia in Fremantle, Perth Building Development, Western Australian Homes

Liv Apartments, Defence Housing Australia Fremantle

DHA residential project in Western Australia: One Planet Community – design by Hassel

5 Feb 2018

Liv Apartments – Defence Housing Australia Fremantle

Location: Perth, Western Australia

Design: Hassel with Cundall

Defence Housing Australia Fremantle

05/02/2018 – Cundall gains first One Planet Community accreditation for Australian residential development

Cundall has gained its first One Planet Community recognition for the Defence Housing Australia (DHA) residential project in Fremantle, Western Australia.

Cundall was responsible for leading the One Planet submission, working with the design team, DHA and Bioregional to create a framework that set clear sustainable outcomes. The Defence Housing Australia project received formal One Planet Community recognition after meeting conditions including a commitment to environmental, financial and lifestyle sustainability.

“Liv Apartments is showing national leadership with a development that has been designed to create a community with a diverse range of healthy and sustainable living options within the existing Fremantle suburban area,’ Ms Jackson said. “Clearly, DHA is determined to improve the health and wellbeing of the Australian Defence Force personnel, general residents and the Fremantle community.”

The project has used the Ten One Planet Principles to go beyond minimum compliance with initiatives that not only reduce the consumption of natural resourcing, but create a community that benefits the health and wellbeing of the residents. Targets range from diverting 60% organic waste from landfill, to ensuring that residents in the development get to know more than five of their neighbours’ names.

An embedded network with 80kW of PV panels is included, enabling the strata to sell the electricity produced below retail price to residents and retail and commercial tenants. This not only will reduce the energy bills but will save an estimated 104 tonnes of carbon a year.

A machine that dehydrates organic waste from residents and retail tenancy waste, will divert waste from landfill whilst the compost produced will be used for the community gardens and the water produced will be used for irrigation.

Oliver Grimaldi, Cundall Associate said: “Rainwater harvesting in Perth is not usually feasible due to the rain patterns, therefore installing technology that reduces waste where a by-product is water that can be used for irrigation is one of the many examples of innovation in this project.”

Creating a community has been a large part of the project, with communal areas created for gatherings and an online hub for all residents.

“The online hub will give neighbours a chance to offer services to each other such as furniture swapping and pet sitting services. These will create opportunities for neighbours to connect and find common interests.” Mr Grimaldi said.